More phlox sown

Because the first sowing of phlox didn't produce as many seedlings as I expected, today I sowed another batch.

Toms potted up

2 of the marmande seeds didn't germinate.

Today I potted up the mystery seedlings, as they seemed to be getting rather large. 8 of the 16 seeds I sowed have sprouted, with those sown flat producing 5 seedlings, while those sown on their side produced 3.

I also potted up 22 impatiens seedlings.


It was cold working in the garden today, and the forecast for next week says we may have snow. I put some of the seedlings in this 'cold frame' type of thing (hope snails don't get in), and the rest went in the front porch.

This time last year it was mild and I had already planted the spuds. This year the cold seems reluctant to let go, and I'm still waiting to put the spuds into the ground.

Marigold and asters sown

Seed update

Impatiens

Rudbeckia

Phlox - only one seed seems to be germinating

Mystery Plant - those seeds sown flat seem to be doing best

Moneymaker

Marmande

Gardeners' Delight

Antirrhinum

Front garden

Primroses

Strawberry bed weeded

I also fed the plants.

Antirrhinums sprouting

Phlox seed sown

Impatiens sprouting

Some mould has formed on the surface of the compost - I think this is because I poured the dried seed pods into the compost along with the seeds. Hope it doesn't affect the seeds or seedlings.

Chitting Charlottes

I'm tempted to plant some charlottes in a bag again.

Primroses a bit sparse

This is the bed in which I planted primroses and wallflowers for winter/spring colour. As discussed last year, all the primroses I grew from seed turned out to be purple, and the wallflowers have been affected by the cold and aren't flowering yet (they're an early flowering variety). Next year I'll have to plant more primroses in this bed as they look a bit sparse.

Rudbeckia seeds sown

Tomato seeds sown

Marmande, moneymaker and gardener's delight again this year (using the same packets of seeds I bought last year).

Spud plot covered

On Gardeners' World last week they suggested covering vegetable plots with plastic sheeting to increase the rate of warming of the soil. The weather continues to be cold, so it seemed a good idea.

Shattered primrose

One of the primrose pots has broken, presumably due to the cold. I repotted the primrose, and gave it some feed as it looks a bit poorly.

Chitting under way

I bought a bag of seed potatoes today (Pentland Javelin, same as last year). There were 24 spuds in the bag, I have started chitting 6.

Mystery plant seed sown

Sowed some seed from the mystery plant today. The seed is disc-shaped, so I sowed one batch flat on the compost, ond one with the seed on edge. The pic above shows the seed before being covered with a fine layer of compost.

This plant must be well-known as it has distinctive seed pods, but I don't know what it's called.

Antirrhinum seed sown

Lupins

The lupins seem to have survived the cold.

Cold winter

I'm not surprised to learn that we have endured the coldest winter for 31 years. Today, however, it seems that spring may not be far away.